Adding Fuel To The Fiers

This is the week of talking about pitchers who we have written off for dead and are making comebacks to make us suddenly consider them in 12-teamers. Mike Fiers is raising eyebrows...

This is the week of talking about pitchers who we have written off for dead and are making comebacks to make us suddenly consider them in 12-teamers. Mike Fiers is raising eyebrows and after his 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks start last night against the Athletics, he's now boasting a 2.14 ERA across his last seven starts. Of course I expected to dig into this and find all the numbers to tell me he's bad but...he's...not?! Sure it's with a 5.7% HR/FB rate that leads to a 4.22 xFIP and if you want that as your one reason not to pick him up, I'm totally cool with that. But it's also a 3.34 FIP, .298 BABIP, 80.5% LOB Rate and - here's the best part: identical 21.3% Soft/Hard contact. That's legit. He's reduced his Four-Seamer usage for more Two-Seamers, which has been his best pitch during the stretch, and there's something kinda here. The strikeouts will come and go - 8 strikeouts some games, 3 the next - but if you need Wins and someone to compete with Quality Starts, Fiers could help short term with his 6 IPS. Have a short leash but I'm starting him against the A's next time out.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

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Nick Pollack

Founder of Pitcher List. Creator of CSW, The List, and SP Roundup. Worked with MSG, FanGraphs, CBS Sports, and Washington Post. Former college pitcher, travel coach, pitching coach, and Brandeis alum. Wants every pitcher to be dope.

24 responses to “Adding Fuel To The Fiers”

  1. Jimmy says:

    What did you think of Verlander’s start yesterday? Did he look back to normal to you?

    His stuff was working incredibly well through 5 IP and then he got screwed over by a bunt single, a borderline ball 4 in a full count, and the Tigers defense botching an easy pop fly.

    • Nick Pollack says:

      I think this was the start we needed to see to allow us to start him with confidence moving forward.

      • Jimmy says:

        It’s still early in the week, but how do you think that start affect’s Verlander’s in your top 100 SPs ranking

        • Nick Pollack says:

          Can’t say just yet, but mid-to-low 30s sounds right for now. The whole range from Pineda-Verlander is about finding someone to stick and this is certainly encouraging.

  2. Soggy Arm says:

    Is giving up Conforto for Samardzija an equitable deal?12-teamer.

  3. Matt says:

    What is AGA?

  4. Manley Ramirez says:

    Raise to a 33% ownership threshold for streamers? Agree 50% is probably too high to be helpful to readers but 25% may leave too few viable options for you to choose from on many days.

    • Nick Pollack says:

      True, I was thinking that a bit, though I’ve been doing sub 25% so far this year and it’s worked for the most part.

      What I’ll do is if there is a pitcher I don’t like under 25%, I’ll bring up someone just above it instead.

  5. tim says:

    What’s Montgomery’s outlook for the ROS? I got offered Longoria straight up and I am in need of a 3B but it’s a points league so pitching is at a premium. Montgomery is by no means my ace but he’s been solid for a while now.

    • Nick Pollack says:

      As of now, he’s not expected to last long in the rotation and will be moved out once Hendricks returns (I’m hoping Butler gets the axe instead, but for now it’s Monty).

      He’s still a case-by-case starter and far from a “start against all but the worst matchups” starter. If it’s a sizable points jump to start Longoria, I’d make the swap.

  6. SK says:

    Hi Nick, The latest Hitters List article isn’t working. Can you fix it? Thanks!

  7. David says:

    Nick, may I please have your permission to drop Gsellman for really anyone?

  8. Dave says:

    Nick….I hear Jon Gray may be back next week….drop Hoffman for Gray?

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